George Varga's pick: “Crazy,” Gnarls Barkley. Blige or the Dixie Chicks will win, but the gospel-tinged “Crazy” manages the rare feat of sounding both retro and contemporary – and makes losing your mind almost seem desirable.

Varga's pick: “Taking the Long Way,” Dixie Chicks. Nashville be damned: “Long Way” allows Grammy voters to make a political statement, however mild, against the war in Iraq while saluting female empowerment.

Garin's pick: “St. Elsewhere,” Gnarls Barkley. For being so much more creative and original than its competition.

Varga's pick: “The River in Reverse,” Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint. Toussaint and Costello's stirring musical valentine to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans easily outclasses all of the other nominees.

Garin's pick: “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” Justin Timberlake. Though it has a few too many ballads, the dance songs are fun enough to become instant guilty pleasures.